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Here is my predicted Arsenal line-up in must-win game at Forest – What’s your’s?

My predicted line up vs Nottingham Forest

Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad will travel up to Nottingham to face off against Forest in what should be a good game. Last season we walked away 1-0 losers after a tough game at the City Ground and will be looking to shake that voodoo and hopefully get the second win over Forest this year. Currently sitting 3rd on the table, 5 points off the top spot so every point counts and this is another must-win for Arteta and his men. With a few absentees and a few players returning, this is how I expect Arteta to line his squad up.

In goal, David Raya. Raya probably had his best game in an Arsenal shirt against Crystal Palace and will be looking to continue that form, looking confident and composed throughout the game, he put in a performance that justified taking Ramsdale’s top spot. Hoping for a clean sheet and a big performance tonight, the Forest crowd can be a bit daunting and hard to deal with so he will have to be strong minded and concentrate.

In defence I expect a back four of White, Saliba, Gabriel and Zinchenko. Zinchenko had a good game against Palace and after coming back from injury will hopefully get back to his best. Saliba and Gabriel in the middle as normal, probably the strongest partnership in the league this season and have rarely failed us. Gabriel himself is in fine form, scoring and setting up another goal against Palace but has been nursing a knock so it’s all up in the air at the moment and we might have to see Arteta switch a few things up if so. White has also been solid as right back all season and will need to be at his best to deal with Hudson-Odoi.

In the middle I expect a three of Odegaard, Rice and Havertz. Rice came off with a knock against Palace, but Arteta has since confirmed he has been training and is in contention, so I expect him to come straight back into the side. Odegaard and Havertz both looked good against Palace, and I think they keep their spots against Forest as they’ve been playing well together and look dangerous when going forward.

In attack I expect a front three of Saka, Jesus and Trossard. Although Martinelli came on and scored against Palace I think Trossard also scoring makes a case as to why he should be starting again, Martinelli just hasn’t looked at his best recently (other than against Palace) and Trossard came in and really made the role his own. Saka on the right wing as usual, bringing pace and hopefully linking up well with his fellow attackers, we really need him back at his best and Jesus up front and centre and hopefully he can find the back of the net after not scoring for a bit.

So that’s a 4-3-3 formation of

Raya

White – Saliba – Gabriel – Zinchenko

Odegaard – Rice – Havertz

Saka – Jesus – Trossard

What’s your thoughts Gooners? How do you think Arteta lines his squad up tonight?

Daisy Mae

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10 Comments

    1. not necessarily in the order position the above may suggest – that would be interesting, not winning, but interesting

      Arteta was pretty clear Partey is ruled out, and even if fit would start on the bench for a 15 minute trot out in readiness for Liverpool

    1. is this a ‘fantasy’ XI or ‘predicted’ XI

      Partey has been ruled out, and even if was playing Arteta is never subbing out Odegaard for ESR

  3. I think Daisy Mae will never appreciate Martinelli, ever. I’ve read a few of her opinions pieces where she alleges Martinelli has not been at his best. The same player who has scored the most goals and provided assists in the last six or so games. If he’s not good enough to start, why does she have Saka (who’s completely out of sorts) and Havertz in the team? The only player successfully going at opposition defenders is Martinelli. Enough of the scapegoating.

  6. Partey is ruled out, standard Arteta 4-3-3, one change Martinelli in

    ———- Raya ———-
    White — Saliba — Gabriel — Zincenko
    Odegaard —– Rice —— Havertz
    Saka ——- Jesus ——- Marinelli

    I would like to see ESR given the opportunity to start, and/or experiment with Jesus on the right wing, maybe even switch Saka central

    but we know Arteta plays the same formation, in the same way, with basically the same players every week in the PL

  7. Nketiah

    Martinelli Smith Rowe Saka

    Rice Odegaard

    Zinchenko White
    Magalhaes Saliba
    Raya

    This is the line up that will destroy Nottingham Forest. In the second half you remove both Nketiah and Saka for Gabriel Jesus and Nelson. You also remove Odegaard for Havertz. ARTETA’S BIGGEST PROBLEM IS THAT HE DO START ODEGAARD AND HAVERTZ AT THE SAME TIME. ONLY ONE SHOULD START, AS AGAINST SHEFFIELD UNITED THIS SEASON WHEN WE PUMPED FIVE INTO THERE NET, SMITH ROWE BEING IN THE ATTACKING MIDFIELD.

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